Google's Nexus 5X's Major Fail: Reversible USB Cord Won't Work With Most PCs

Spending $379 on the Nexus 5X doesn't buy you a cable that lets you connect it to most PCs. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

If you’ve preordered the Nexus 5X, you’re going to have to spend a few more dollars if you want to connect it to your computer’s USB port. That’s because out of the box, Google and LG’s smartphone doesn’t come with a cable that works with the standard USB port found on most desktop computers around the world, Android blog Phandroid reported.

Instead, the Nexus 5X comes with only a wall outlet adapter and cable that works with USB Type-C, a new reversible connector that is aimed at replacing the various shapes and sizes connectors that dot the USB landscape. But the problem is there are only a handful of computers so far that support the new connector out of the box, such as Apple’s 12-inch MacBook and Google’s Chromebook Pixel.

The inclusion of only a USB Type-C to Type-C cable also rules out users bringing a cable with them and hoping someone has a spare wall adapter to borrow for a recharge. That means Nexus 5X owners will have to spend another $13 to buy the proper cable through the Google Store. Or for some savings, they can turn to online vendors that are selling similar cables for a cheaper price.

Google conveniently has USB cables available for purchase on its Nexus 5X page.Photo: Screenshot/Google Play

One possible reason for the lack of a standard USB cable is both phones are loaded with the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system, which comes with support for fast charging through USB Type-C.

The lack of a standard USB cable doesn’t affect shoppers who opted for the larger and more expensive Huawei Nexus 6P, because Google and Huawei included in the box a standard USB cable in addition to one that supports USB Type-C.

Google’s Nexus 5X starts at $379 and can be purchased from the Google Store in 16GB or 32GB models. The Nexus 6P starts at $499 and comes in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB configurations.